Buddha Enlightened One

Transcription

1 Buddhism

2 Buddhism - Overview It has been said that as Judaism is to Christianity, so is Hinduism to Buddhism. Buddhism arose out of Hinduism as a direct result of the influence of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha or Enlightened One. The religious worldview of the Buddhist is very similar to the Hindu worldview, but it is important to recognize that Buddhism is still very much distinct from Hinduism. Buddhism is the world s fourth largest religion, comprising around 6% of the world s population. The 350,000,000 adherents to the religion are found mainly in China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indochina, Korea, and Tibet. There are around 800,000 Buddhists in the U.S. and, as of 2007, 1,202,045 Buddhists in Canada (about 3.6% of the population).

3 Buddhist Origins: Siddhartha Gautama The Period of Enjoyment: Siddhartha was born into the warrior caste (Kshatriya) in the town of Kapilavastu, which at the time was in northeastern India but is now part of Nepal. Tradition says that Siddhartha's father sought to shelter his son from the suffering of this world (sickness, old age, death, poverty) for it was foretold that Siddhartha would be a great spiritual leader, and his father wanted to secure his son s political future. The Four Sights: One day, Siddhartha ventured away from his family s palace and encountered all four kinds of suffering a man wracked by disease, a man decrepit with old age, a corpse, and a monk begging for money. This experience had a profound effect on Siddhartha, as it caused him to take a negative view of his wealth and social status and he became deeply concerned with the problem of suffering. Footprints of the Buddha traditionally symbolize the physical presence of the Enlightened One. Origins: Origins: See pages in World Religions: A Canadian Catholic Perspective

4 Buddhist Origins: Siddhartha Gautama The Period of Renunciation and Austerities: As a result of this experience, Siddhartha left his family (including a wife and a child); he sought to discover the source of suffering and how to eliminate it. Siddhartha took on the life of an ascetic; his meditation on the cessation of suffering was not successful. He then resolved to live on next to nothing. After almost drowning while bathing (he was so weak he could not resist the current of the river), he natural realized that one has to give the body what is and necessary, for while excess is an obstruction to the attainment of enlightenment, so to is self-deprecation. The middle way as he called it is the path between both extremes. (The best lifestyle was one of moderation.)

5 Buddhist Origins: Siddhartha Gautama The Period of Enlightenment: After eating to regain his strength, Siddhartha walked to the city of Bodh Gaya, where he sat under a fig tree (the Bodhi Tree ) and vowed that he would not rise again until he had attained enlightenment. During this deep state of meditation, Siddhartha was severely tempted by Mara, the evil one. After some period of time (some say one night, while others argue for as many as forty-nine), Siddhartha was awakened to the truth, or enlightened; Buddhists call this Nirvana. After sharing his findings with others, it became clear that what Siddhartha had discovered was truly revolutionary. In short, the teachings of Siddhartha challenged Hinduism in the following ways: * Questioned the authority of the Brahmin class * Rejected all caste divisions * Condemned the developing philosophies regarding religion : According to Siddhartha, it is only what one does, not what one believes, that matters. * No God, nor any specific ritual, can bring enlightenment

6 Buddhist Origins: Siddhartha Gautama REVIEW OF CONCEPTS: 1. Describe Siddhartha's origins. 2. What are the Four Sights? 3. Which aspects of Hinduism did the Buddha not accept? List something he DID accept from Hinduism?

7 Buddhism Belief: Are you Happy?

8 Buddhism Belief: Overview To understand this religion, one must remember its ultimate goal: the end of human suffering. All Buddhist teachings show the way to end the suffering of life and to stop samsara (the endless cycle of uncontrolled rebirths). These reincarnations (rebirths) involve the transference of one's mind or consciousness into new bodies after death. When one achieves nirvana, one has attained perfect wisdom and is released from samsara. Main Buddhist Teachings and Rules Three Characteristics of Existence The Five Precepts The Four Noble Truths The Noble Eightfold Path The Six Perfections The Three Refuges

9 Buddhist Belief: Three Characteristics of Existence Buddha believed that all things, outside of nirvana, had three fundamental characteristics: 1. Anicca (impermanence) 2. Dukkha (dissatisfaction) 3. Anatta (selflessness) Anicca - Represents the idea that the world is in constant flux and that nothing stays the same for long. (The environment changes, our clothes wear out, our bodies age, etc.) Dukkha - Represents the idea that all humans and animals experience suffering. Physical and mental pain are extreme examples of this characteristic. Anatta -Represents the idea that we cannot point to any one thing in ourselves that we can say is self. No single part of the body (i.e. an eye, a foot, etc.) is the person. Only when we put all the parts together do we collectively call them a person. (see page 274 in textbook for further explanation)

10 Buddhist Belief: The Five Precepts Think about the Ten Commandments. What are the Ten Commandments? What rules govern the behaviour of a Buddhist? Is there a difference between the Ten Commandments and The Five Precepts?

11 Buddhist Belief: The Five Precepts These are the rules followed by Buddhist lay people to control improper, or non-beneficial, physical and verbal behaviour that might cause suffering. (The first precept refers to ahisma) 1. Abstain from killing or harming livings beings 2. Abstain from stealing 3. Abstain from improper sexual conduct 4. Abstain from false speech, i.e. telling lies, setting people against each other, and gossiping 5. Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful drugs Additional Precepts followed by ordained monks, nuns (some follow up to 200 precepts!) - Abstain from eating after noon - Abstain from looking at dancing, singing or drama - Abstain from the use of perfumes and things that tend to beautify and adorn a person - Abstain from using comfortable beds - Abstain from accepting gold or silver etc...

12 Buddhist Belief: The Four Noble Truths 1. Suffering Exists (Life is Suffering): Humans sleep away their lives in senseless and self-centered preoccupations; this self-centeredness only leads to pain, misery, sorrow, and unfulfillment. 2. Desire Causes Suffering: The need to refer all things to ourselves causes suffering. We suffer because our ego dupes us into believing that we need that which is not permanent (body, perspective, emotion, feeling, impulse are all very real it is our linking of these realities to a self that is incorrect). 3. Cessation (Extinction) of Desire Brings the Cessation of Suffering: One must see things as they really are, not simply as they are for ourselves. Rather than absorb everything into the ego for our own pleasure, we must allow our connection with reality to cause an outward flow a universal compassion toward all living creatures. This is not a belief, it is an action. 4. The Cessation of Desire Is Found Through the Eightfold Path: The observance of the truths of the Eightfold Path is at the heart of the Buddhist life. Belief: See pages 276 in text

13 Buddhist Belief: The Eightfold Path Wisdom 1. Right View know the truth (the rules of Buddhism 4 Noble Truths) 2. Right Thought/ Intention resist self-centeredness (How can you be less self- centered?) Ethical Conduct 3. Right Speech refrain from unkind, negative speech 4. Right Conduct/ Action respect all life (your physical actions should help life) 5. Right Livelihood work for the good of others (help others) Mental Discipline 6. Right Effort exert oneself in freeing the mind of evil (Try to not be worried about the voice in your head.) 7. Right Mindfulness/ Awareness elevate one s thoughts beyond the haze of emotion and mood. (How can you be more aware of your actions?) 8. Right Concentration/ Meditation practice the discipline of meditation

14 The Eight Fold Path Create a box, similar to the one below. Describe an example for each aspect of the Eightfold path. Right View: Right Thought: Right Speech: Right Conduct: Right Livelihood: Right Effort: Right Mindfulness: Right Concentration:

15 Buddhist Belief: Nirvana The Result of the Eightfold Path Although Buddha s immediate goal was to eliminate the cause of suffering, his ultimate goal was to become liberated from the cycle of death and rebirth. This was to be accomplished by teaching how we can cease craving and thereby eliminate our attachment to and beliefs in the existence of the illusory self (that is, the self tied to existence here on earth). When we are successful in eliminating such attachment, then the effects of karma cease to matter because all is seen for what it is no longer are we tied to the longings of the earth. At that moment, the moment of enlightenment, the person achieves the state of nirvana the ultimate goal of the Buddhist, and Buddhism s equivalent of salvation or heaven. The Wheel of Life: Otherwise called the Cycle of Samsara (material existence) explains this process of death and rebirth. In the very center, there is a rooster chasing a pig chasing a snake chasing the rooster -- craving, hatred, and ignorance. Around that are people ascending the white semicircle of life, and others descending the black semicircle of death. The greatest portion of the Wheel is devoted to representations of the six realms -- the realm of the gods, the realm of the titans, the realm of humans, the realm of animals, the realm of the hungry ghosts, and the realm of demons -- each realm looked over by its own Bodhisattva. The outermost circle is the 12 steps of dependent origination. (See image on next page)

16 Wheel of Samsara Try to locate and label the following: Moon (Symbolizes Liberation) Three Root Delusions: Greed (pig), Hatred (snake), Lust (rooster) Humans Animals Buddha (points at moon) Yama (Lord of Death turns wheel) 12 Links of Dependent Origination DEVA Realm ASHURA Realm Hungry Ghosts Beings in Hell

17 Wheel of Samsara Answer Key

18 Buddhist Belief: The Six Perfections Bodhisattva is a person who has attained nirvana but chooses to be reborn with samsara in order to help others on their path to enlightenment. A Bodhisattva practices the Six Perfections: 1. Giving 2. Morality 3. Patience 4. Vigour 5. Meditation 6. Wisdom

19 Buddhist Belief: The Three Refuges Refuge: A place of safety from danger. The Three Refuges (The Triple Jewel) was established by the Buddha to guide followers along the right path and help them on their journey. They are: 1. The Buddha (the guide) 2. The Dharma (the path) 3. The Sangha (companions and teachers)

20 Buddhist Belief REVIEW OF CONCEPTS 1) Describe three elements of existence. How applicable are they to the world in which you live? Explain. 2a) Identify the Five Precepts. What purpose do they serve? Why is the fifth precept so crucial? b) Rank the Five Precepts according to their relevance in your life. Begin by identifying the Precept that is most relevant.

21 Buddhist Worship: Practices & Rituals Buddhists can worship both at home or at a temple. It is not considered essential to go to a temple to worship with others. At Home: Buddhists will often set aside a room or a part of a room as a shrine. There is often a statue of Buddha, candles, and an incense burner. Temples: Buddhist temples come in many shapes. Perhaps the best known are the pagodas of China and Japan. All Buddhist temples contain an image or a statue of Buddha. Sangha: The community of Buddhist monks and nuns. Stupa: A stone structure built over what are thought to be relics of the Buddha, or over copies of the Buddha's teachings. Buddhist temples are designed to symbolize the five elements: Fire Earth Wisdom Air Water Practices, Rituals & Symbols: See pages in Exploring World Religions

22 Buddhist Worship: Practices & Rituals Can you spot how the temple represents the 5 elements?

23 Buddhist Worship: Practices & Rituals Meditation: Monks and lay people pray through meditation - bowing, chanting, and receiving offerings. Meditation leads to wisdom, which leads to the end of suffering. To meditate, a Buddhist ideally sits in the lotus posture with legs and hands crossed. Mantras: Symbolic phrases chanted by Buddhists to help them keep in touch with their spiritual nature. Om Mani Padme Hum is a six-syllable mantra that means Hail, the jewel in the lotus. Buddhists also believe in karma the totality of one's thoughts and actions determine one's fate in future lives. Many Buddhists participate in puja: acts of reverence that honour holy beings. This is shown through bowing, offering flowers, burning incense and lighting candles or lamps.

24 Buddhist Worship: Symbols and Icons Buddha Images The icons, or images of the Buddha to which Buddhists pay homage are considered representations of him and his teachings and are respected but not generally worshipped.

25 Buddhist Worship: Symbols and Icons Om Mani Padme Hum: Mantra popular with Tibetan Buddhists Stupa Dome-shaped mounds that house relics of the Buddha or other holy figures Lotus Flower: Represents the ability of humans to develop their potential and rise from an undesirable life

26 Buddhist Worship: Symbols and Icons Buddhapada: Representations of Buddha s footprints. Mudras: Hand gestures (also important to Hindus) which are used in meditation. There are many different mudras, and each represent a different state of mind.

27 Buddhist Worship: Symbols and Icons Mandalas: Means circle. It is a visual aid for concentration and a device for meditation. The viewing of a mandala generates healing energy and brings the viewer closer to enlightenment.

28 Buddhist Worship: Symbols and Icons REVIEW OF CONCEPTS Read about the Wheel of Life and Mandalas on pgs in the Exploring World Religions textbook and answer the following questions: 1. How effective is the Wheel of Life image in representing the central teaching of Buddhism? Explain. 2. What is the purpose of a mandala? 3. Why is the sand mandala destroyed after use?

29 Buddhist Festivals - Activity In pairs or independently, provide 2-3 key points for each of the Buddhist Festivals outlined in the Exploring World Religions textbook (pg. 186) Festival Buddhist New Year When does it occur? How is it celebrated? Visakha Puja Day "Buddha Day Asalha Puja Day "Dhamma Day" Magha Puja Day Fourfold Assembly "Sangha Day" Songkran Loy Krathong Festival of Floating Bowls

30 Buddhist Worship: Symbols and Icons REVIEW OF CONCEPTS Application Assignment Create your own Mandala OR Wheel of Life using images, colours and patterns that have meaning for you. Explain (label) your imagery. You may wish to use the templates below as guidelines.

31 Buddhist Milestones EARLY LIFE Head Shaving Ceremony When a baby boy reaches one month of age, the parents invite monks to their house or take the baby to the temple to have his head shaved. The head is shaved, because the hair is seen as a symbol of bad karma from a previous life it is a fresh start. BECOMING A BUDDHIST MONK Sometimes male children spend extended periods of time at the temples with the monks and become novices (monks in training). The ordination ceremony is when a boy becomes a monk (head shaving occurs here as well). MARRIAGE When a couple gets married, they go to the monastery to feed the monks in order to receive a blessing. The monks are not involved in the actual ceremony. FUNERAL Buddhist funerals are elaborate and involve many rituals. Bodies may be cremated based on Indian custom, or they may be buried. Burials occur if the price for wood (to burn for cremation) is too expensive for the family to purchase. There is usually a procession, followed by prayers, the pouring of water and a shared meal. Buddhist monks perform short prayers and chants, and everyone recites the Triple Refuge and the Five Precepts. In the case of cremation, the pyre (on which the body rests) is lit by the eldest son for the deceased person. 6 days after death, a dharma-preaching service is held at the home, which is followed by a dana on the 7 th day. Similar services are held three months later, and again a year after that. Milestones: See pages 270 in text

32 Buddhist Sacred Writings The main written source of Buddha s wisdom is the Tripitaka. Tripitaka: Referred to as the Three Baskets because the palm leaf manuscripts written by the Buddha s followers were kept in three different baskets. The baskets are called the Vinaya- Pitaka, the Sutta-Pitaka, and the Abhidhamma-Pitaka. They include Buddha's sermons, rules for the monks and philosophical teachings, with 100 volumes. (about the size of 70 Bibles) Vinaya-Pitaka: Basket of Discipline - consists of 5 books that address rules of monastic life and codes of conduct. Sutta-Pitaka: Basket of Discourses contained in 5 collections and incorporates the teachings of the Buddha. *One of the most important baskets for Buddhists* *It also contains the Dhammapada - a collection of 424 verses on ethics. These verses are organized by themes. Abhidhamma-Pitaka: Basket of Further Teachings - discusses the nature of consciousness and includes technical explanation of the Sutta-Pitaka. Sutras: The Mahayana school of Buddhism added more Sutras (discourses) attributed to the Buddha. These include the Karma Sutra referred to by the Buddha as the Golden Precepts. Believing in and following the Karma Sutra is supposed to bring eternal prosperity and happiness.

33 Buddhist Groups & Institutions Mahayana & Theravada Mahayana Buddhists (the greater vehicle): Buddhists who believe that enlightenment is accessible to everyone. Hinayana Buddhists (the lesser vehicle): Buddhists who believe that enlightenment is only attainable for a committed few and that Buddha was only a man and not a god (monks, for example). Theravada Buddhists: Buddhists in the Hinayana tradition who place more emphasis on the sacredness of scriptures. Being offended by the term Hinayana, they refer to themselves as Theravada Buddhists, which means teaching of the elders. The difference between Mahayana Buddhists and Theravada Buddhists is best illustrated in a comparison between the Bodhisattva and the Arahat. * The Bodhisattva has forgone Nirvana in order to take the whole of mankind with him into Nirvana. This person lives in service to all who live. * The Arahat, on the other hand, is of the belief that enlightenment is only a personal process that must be worked out by each individual to forgo Nirvana is not possible, for one never knows when he/she had reached Nirvana. Groups & Institutions: See pages in World Religions

34 Buddhist Groups & Institutions - Activity In pairs or independently, provide 2-3 key points for each of the Buddhist Groups, Schools and/or Institutions outlined in the World Religions textbook (pg ) GROUPS Place of Origin Beliefs and Teachings The Theravada School The Mahayana School The Vajrayana School Zen Buddhism

35 The Dalai Lama Today s Dalai Lama is the 14 th reincarnation of one of the original Bodhisattvas. He is the exiled religious and political leader of Tibet. In a recent speech in London, in front of many religious leaders of varying religions, the Dalai Lama said: For some people, religions which are based on belief in a Creator God have the most powerful effect on their ethical life and serve to motivate them to act in an ethical and sound way. However, this might not be the case for every person. For others, the Buddhist tradition, which does not emphasize belief in a Creator, may be more effective. In the Buddhist tradition, there is an emphasis on a sense of personal responsibility and action rather than on the understanding of a transcendent being who cannot be understood. It is crucial to recognize that both spiritual traditions share the common goal of producing a human being who is fully realized, spiritually mature, good, and warm-hearted. There has always been and there will always be diversity in human disposition what we must seek is understanding.